The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-02-24
Caught Dy n Big Souid.

1--WE were living about half a mile of
the beach at the Barbadoes, overhaul
ing the standing rigging" SAID James
Gillis, able seaman, TO Il New Y 1ork SHp
reporter, when the mate ordered John
Webb, an apprentice boy, and myself
into the vawl, which had been covered
and brought around to the port side,
that some painting might be done Just
abaft the mainmast. 1t was a terribly
hot day, with the water very warm and
the men having little energy. The
paint was lowered down to us, and
while used the brush the boy held the
yawl in position. We had been at
work for about u quarter of an houI
when the boy suddenly yelled out in
alright and as turned to him he de-
clared that he had seen horrible-look
ing object pass under the boat, and SO
, under the ship. There are plenty OF
strange creatures floating about III
those waters. and patch of seaweed
will sometimes assume a queer shape.
/ laughed at the BOYS fears, but at the
same time saw how pale and frightened
he looked.
81 began to work again, and had
been at it only three or four minutes
when the yawl heaved away from the
| ship two or three feet, and at the same
! instant the boy screamed out again.
His voice had scarcely reached my ears
when something flashed before my
eyes, something caught my arm and
pulled it down and pinned it fast to my
body, and IN five seconds more | knew
what had happened. A devil fish had
flung ono of his arms about me. Webb
was screaming at the top of his voice,
and as got look at him | saw that
two of the beasts feelers were clutching
HIM. The arm or feeler which had
reached me pinned my arm TO my side
as if IN wise, making a clean wrap
around my body, and tho extreme end
of the feeler crept up along my neck
and face. Talk of pain; l never felt
anytning like it. The teeth of a bull
dog couldn't have hurt worse. 1t was
burning. biting. blistering sensation,
rs if live coal had been laid on the
flesh | added my yells TO those ol
Webb, but before any one came 10 the
rail was jerked TO my knees III the
boat and saw that the creatures object
was to pull me overheard. | heard the
bov 90 down and thrash about, ant
then three OF the men came to our as
sistance.
s.The devil fish had outwItted himself
He had gone under the ship and fastcn
ed TO her bottom or keel, and as sool
as he began pulling on us he of course
pulled the yawl close against the ship,
side. That closed the gap. and Ii,
could not pull us overheard, although
think he would have upset the yawl, To-
we were both down on her starboar,
side and she was almost on her beam
end when the men jumped down. The,
began to cut and slash and hack will
, their knives. and after two or thre
minutes they had US frce-not of tn
arms, but of the creature. We wcr
hoisted on board bowling and groan
ing, with the feelers still biting, an,
they had to be cut from us almost b.
inches. Webb got 1t far. worse than
did, as he wore thin cotton shirt an'
= was barefooted. He was bitten on on
, foot, both hands. and across the breast
and it was a long two weeks before Ii
was on deck again, his face swelled u
r until one eve was closed, and the poi
son made me i'll for many days. Whel
ever one of the cups or suckers too
+ hold the skin was entirely taken of
and it seemed as if pins had been stuc
y into the raw flesh. A native docto
I brought me some herbs of which
5 make poultice. and. though that re
lieved the pain and helped me to Sc
around again. it was months before m
face was entirely well.
The devil fish minded the loss of hi
three arms for only half an hour, :
| the end of which time he clutched til
: empty boat. half capsized her, an
3 SWAN twice around the ship as a def
ance to the crew. Two or three muske
, balls were fired into him and he san
, out of sight 10 be seen no more durln
our stay"